Shelving for refrigerators.



F. P. LAYMAN.

SHELVIN G FOR REFRIGERATORS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. I915. RENEWED SEPT. 7, 191a.

Lg2%30 Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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FLORENCE P. LAYIVIAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SANITARY REFRIGERATOR &; HEATER COMPANY, OF PORTAGE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

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" To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, l ronnivon P. LAYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shelving for Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in shelving and has relation more particularly to shelving especially designed and adapted for use in connection with refrigeration; and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character wherein a circulation of a cooling fluid is permitted beneath the upper surface of a shelf. v

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide a shelf of this general character including a fluid channel and having novel and improved means whereby it is assured that such channel is entirely filled, such fluid being preferably a liquid, whereby air is excluded from within the channel and thus preventing accumulation of slime or any bacterial or organic life.

My invention also contemplates for an object to provide a novel and improved shelf of this general character including a channel and provided with means whereby all foreign matter is withheld from entering within the channel.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved. shelving whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a refrigerator illustrating shelving constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of a lower sheet included in a shelf; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. it), 1911?. Renewed September '7, 1916. Serial No. 118,945.

Fig. '3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, my improved shelving is employed in connection with a conventional household refrigerator R and within the upper portion of the cooling chamber C thereof is suitably supported the ice tray or container T provided adjacent one marginal portion with the depending discharge nipple or vent N, for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. I

Suitably supported within the cooling chamber C below the tray or container T and in predetermined vertically spaced relation are the shelves S and S constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and each of said shelves, as herein disclosed, comprises two superimposed sheets of metal of predetermined configuration and dimensions secured one to the other at their marginal portions, the lower sheet 1 having produced therein, and preferably pressed, the parallel ducts 2 having their adjacent extremities alternately connected by the perpendicularly related ducts 3, the ducts 2 being disposed preferablylongitudinally of the sheet 1 and the ducts 3 transversely thereof. By this arrangement, it will be readily perceived that a continuous channel disposed in an irregular path is provided which results in a. maximum of efliciency, as will hereinafter be self-evident. It is also to be noted that the sheets 1 and 4: are provided with the ventilating openings or perforations positioned intermediate adjacent ducts 2.

The uppermost sheet f adjacent the discharge or outlet end of the channel is pro vided with an opening 5 defined by the upstanding collar 6 adapted to be detachably engaged by the cap 7 and affording a chamber A above the upper surface of the shelf and into which extends the overflow pipe 8 disposed through and operatively supported by the lower sheet 1. It is to be observed that the upper extremity of the pipe 8 is above the upper surface of the sheet 4 whereby it is assured that the fluid, preferably liquid, delivered within the channel will completely fill such channel to the exclusion of air whereby the accumulation of slime or any bacterial or organic life is eliminated.

In communication with the channel sheet f and above one of the ducts 3 is an opening 9 defined by an upstanding collar 10 with which is detachably engaged the funnel-shape member 11 having its bell portion intersected by a suitable screening element 12, and it is to be observed that the bell of the funnel is positioned below the depending nipple or vent N of the ice tray or container T so that, in the present embodiment of my invention, the drippings from said tray or container will be caused to travel through the channel and it will also be readily appreciated that the screening element 12 will prevent the ingress within said channel of any foreign matter which would otherwise tend to mar the usefulness of the shelf.

The upstanding collar 10 of the lower shelf S has engaged therewith an extremity of the removable pipe 14 while the opposite extremity of said pipe is telescopically engaged by the overflow pipe 8, hereinbeforc referred to.

The depending extremity of the overflow pipe 8 of the lower shelf, as herein disclosed, is telescopically engaged with the removable pipe 15 which has its opposite extremity telescopically engaged with the discharging siphon 16 leading exteriorly of the refrigerator R.

I also find it of advantage in practice to provide the interior surfaces of the channel with a coating of a metallic shellac or its equivalent, whereby said channel is rendered substantially impervious to moisture.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that shelving for refrigerators constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the scope of the appended claims and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

The removable pipes 1st and 15, as herein through the upper Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the embodied, are provided with the stops 17 serving in a conventional manner to limit the insertion of said pipes through the opening 9 and within the siphon 16, respectively.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shelving comprising two superimposed members, the lower member being provided with a duct coacting with the upper member to afford a channel, the upper member being provided with an opening in communication with the channel, said opening being defined by an upstanding flange, a cap member coacting with said flange and affording a. chamber above the upper member, and an overflow pipe extending through said channel and into the chamber.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shelving comprising two superimposed members, the lower member being provided with a duct coacting with the upper member to afford a channel, the upper member being provided with an opening in communication with the channel, said opening being defined by an upstanding flange, a cap member coacting with said flange and affording a chamber above the upper member, and an overflow pipe extending through said channel and into the chamber, said overflow pipe being operatively engaged with the lower member.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a shelving comprising two superimposed members, the lower member being provided with a duct coacting with the upper member to afford a channel, he upper member being provided with an opening in communication with the channel, said opening being defined by an upstanding flange, a cap member coacting with said flange and affording a chamber above the upper member, and an overflow pipe extending through said channel and into the chamber, said overflow pipe being operatively engaged with the lower member and disposed therethrough.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afflx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FLORENCE P. LAYMAN.

Witnesses:

H. DOUGLAS LAYMAN, JOHN H. SMOOT.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

